46 a 4 4 0 4 /A . 4 a 4 0 • A Dr•011 a 4 4 II 4 A • : 0 0 / -72/ /00 CONTENTS Preface HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK Chapter I A CONSPIRACY OF HOPE Chapter 2 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TODAY Chapter 3 POLITICAL IMPRISONMENT, TORTURE AND EXECUTIONS The mandate Prisoners of conscience Political trials Torture The death penalty Political killings by governments "Disappearances" Prison conditions Refugees Chapter 4 HOW AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORKS Research Case work (g) Amnesty International Publications 1983 Campaigns All rights reserved. Campaign for the Abolition of Torture First edition: "Handbook for Groups", 1962 Program for the Abolition of the Death Penalty Second edition: "How to help prisoners of conscience: a handbook for Urgent Actions groups", 1967 Campaign for Prisoners of the Month Third edition: "Handbook for Groups", March 1971 Prisoners of Conscience Week Fourth edition: "Handbook for Groups", March 1973 Country campaigns and special actions Fifth edition: March 1977 Regional Action Networks Sixth edition: February 1983 Missions ISBN: 0 900058 48 X Relief Original language: English Publicity and Publications Al Index: ORG 02/01/83 Representations to National Governments Published by Amnesty International Publications The United Nations and International Organizations Target Sector Work Human Rights Education Copies of Amnesty International Publications can be obtained from the offices of the sections of Amnesty International. Office addresses and Chapter 5 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THROUGHOUT THE further information may be obtained from the International Secretariat, 10 WORLD Southampton Street, London WC2E 71-1F, United Kingdom. Address after Members and subscribers September 1983: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Local Al Groups Street, London WC I, United Kingdom. Sections The International Council International Executive Committee International Committees Cover design by Ian Franklin. Printed in Great Britain by Russell Press Ltd, International Secretariat Gamble Street, Nottingham, England. Chapter 6 FUND-RA1SING AND FINANCES Chapter 7 ONE MOVEMENT, ONE VOICE International team work Speaking to the news media Publications An international personality 42 Preface Chapter GENERAL ADVICE ON ACTION Security Coordinating activities Relations with international organizations Relations with other organizations What is pressure? Letters Appeals o to use t is an oo Delegations Public actions Symbolic actions This is the sixth edition of the Amnesty Inter- Second Part. Chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10 give Performances national Handbook. It is a basic reference suggestions for group work and campaigns. Target sector work manual for Amnesty International (Al) members, Groups should consult the handbook before 50 Chapter 9 CASE WORK particularly those working in local groups. It has undertaking activities. Note that these chapters Responsibilities of an Al Group been prepared by the movement's International give only general advice. Groups working on International Secretariat liaison with local Al groups Secretariat and is available in various languages individual cases receive prisoner dossiers with Coordination and local editions. Copies can be obtained from detailed instructions: these take precedence at Selection of prisoner cases Closure of cases the International Secretariat or from section all times over these general suggestions. Aftercare offices. Third Part. Chapters I I. 12 and 13 include Correspondence with government authorities New AI members should not feel obliged to reference material on Al policy and human Correspondence and meetings with government read and immediately digest all the information it representatives rights in international law. The Working Rules Publicity and press relations contains. However, members are expected to be in Chapter 13 specify the responsibilities of Approaches to other organizations and institul ons familiar with the policies and rules explained in all parts of the movement and the normal Correspondence with AI contacts it. There is a list of chapter headings at the procedures of the organization. Correspondence with the prisoner and family beginning and an index at the end: these indicate Relief the information contained in the handbook. New working methods are always being Visits to the prisoner's country The material is presented in three parts: developed. This diversity and flexibility is one of 59 the strengths of the movement. As a result the Chapter 10 LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS First Part. The first six chapters introduce handbook can never be a definitive document. 63 Chapter II AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL POLICY AI's worldwide activities and structure. The To check up on any current policy or to obtain Statute of Amnesty International last chapter, "Commonly Asked Questions", advice on particular problems, please consult Impartiality and the Defence of Human Rights gives concise answers to questions members your coordination group, section office or the Amnesty International and the Use of Violence Policy Guidelines on Conscientious Objection often face. International Secretariat. Declaration of Stockholm Guidelines for Sections and Groups Guidelines on Al Sections' Activities concerning Human Rights Violations in their own Countries Guidelines for the Acceptance of Financial Contributions and Fund-raising by Al 83 Chapter 12 HUMAN RIGHTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW 89 Chapter 13 WORKING RULES Publicity and publications Statements on members' countries External relations Case work and campaigns Missions/Al travel International cooperation Finance, fund-raising and relief Membership, internal structures and information handling Chapter 14 COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS 94 INDEX 96 2 Chapter 1 cons irac of o e Amnesty International was launched in 1961 to An early supporter of the movement, the bring out of the dungeons the forgotten prisoners. It humanitarian Dr Albert Schweitzer, underlined began with a newspaper article calling on people the significance of Amnesty International's of all walks of life to begin working impartially purpose. In a special message in 1963, he wrote: and peacefully for the release of thousands of men believe that world peace can only be achieved and women imprisoned throughout the world for when there is freedom for people of all politics, their political and religious beliefs. These were to religions and races to exchange their views in a be called "prisoners of conscience". and with continuing dialogue. For this reason I would that a new phrase entered the vocabulary of particularly ask all those who are working in their world affairs. different ways towards world peace to make their Within a month more than a thousand people contribution, preferably by active service or, had sent in offers of practical help. Six months failing that, by financial contribution, to this later founder Peter Benenson announced a further great new endeavour called Amnesty Inter- step in the campaign. What had started as a brief national." publicity effort was being converted into a per- Not everyone was of that view. As the move- manent international movement. • "We believe that these first six months have shown that in an increasingly cynical world there is a great latent reservoir of idealism to be 1 tapped," he declared. The full capacity of that reservoir would be • needed if practical action were to counter the reality of political persecution. Trade unionists were being arrested in Spain, dissenters faced long prison terms in the German Democratic Republic, detainees in South Africa were sub- jected to brutality and ill-treatment in custody, civil rights workers in the United States of America were being persecuted, political trials 4 were taking place in the Soviet Union. Official silence In each case where the free expression of views was being suppressed by torture and imprison- ment. Amnesty International members (slowly being organized into groups) attempted the seemingly impossible. They began their own "0414' battle against official silence and political per- Pablo Picasso was an early supporter of the Amnesty Interna- tional movement, to which he gave this drawing. secution. They contacted the prisoners' families and lawyers and began sending off postcards, ment became better known and attracted more letters and telegrams appealing to government support, its critics became vocal. A report on authorities to respect human rights. allegations of ill-treatment of detainees in 4 A conspiracy of hope Nort hem Ireland caused a furore in t he United intervened and saved my life." Chapter 2 K ingdom, the country where the Amnesty Another voice from prison: "Faith in your appeal had first appeared. As other reports came efforts and concern sustained me throughout the out on country after country, denunciations horrible period of my imprisonment. Without followed. The Soviet journal lzrestia referred to hope I think I would have died." "ideological saboteurs"; Rastakhiz in Iran dubbed The movement had become a lifeline -- a Amnesty "a new puppet show that the com- - conspiracy of hope", open to everyone pre- nes International o a munists have started". pared to work in defence of human dignity. It had But from inside the very countries that were proved that ordinary people could work together Today. Al has more than 350,000 members, damning Amnesty came other voices. The post- regardless of politics in an effort to halt the Thousands of people are in subscribers and supporters in over I 50 countries cards and the telegrams and the little parcels of excesses of tyranny.